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What is the "firmware" folder under home folder for?

I have recently purchased a 2020 MBP 13, after I migrated everything from my old 2017 MBP 13, I noticed that there is a "firmware" folder under my home folder and there are 3 dmg files with a couple of plists. As shown in the screenshot below.


I am wondering if it is safe to remove those dmg files or even the entire firmware folder? Because one of the dmgs is 1.86GB.


Thanks!


Amos

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 12, 2020 7:59 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 13, 2020 4:55 PM

Alright, here is what I eventually found:


058-75393-062.dmg is Update Ramdisk for iPhone 5

058-75249-062.dmg is Restore Ramdisk for iPhone 5

https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/Greensburg_14G60_(iPhone5,2)


058-75499-062.dmg is the Root Filesystem for iPad 4th gen

https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/Greensburg_14G60_(iPad3,5)


Still no idea when, where and why I downloaded these files.



Anyways, thanks guys for your effort! Really appreciated!

7 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 13, 2020 4:55 PM in response to am0s_x

Alright, here is what I eventually found:


058-75393-062.dmg is Update Ramdisk for iPhone 5

058-75249-062.dmg is Restore Ramdisk for iPhone 5

https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/Greensburg_14G60_(iPhone5,2)


058-75499-062.dmg is the Root Filesystem for iPad 4th gen

https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/Greensburg_14G60_(iPad3,5)


Still no idea when, where and why I downloaded these files.



Anyways, thanks guys for your effort! Really appreciated!

Sep 12, 2020 8:58 PM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy,


Thanks for the reply!


I honestly have no idea when or where I downloaded them. I don't remember I have seen this folder in my old MBP, the create date was in 2017 so I think they might be hidden at that time.



Upon opening the .dmg file, it seems like a linux-ish file structure.


After some Googling online I have seen some people saying it is for the T2 chip, not sure if this is correct. Because my 2017 MBP does not have a T2, if I remembered correctly.


Please tell me what are those firmware for if you know.



Thanks again!

Sep 13, 2020 10:37 AM in response to am0s_x

It seems "linux-ish" because macOS is mostly Unix. That isn't unusual. They cannot be for the T2 chip because it wasn't used until 2018, and the files are dated back to 2017. Judging by the file listing you posted, I'm guessing they were for an iOS upgrade of some sort. Again, I believe you should toss them all. Whatever they were for in 2017, I doubt they would be useful now.


Sep 13, 2020 1:44 PM in response to am0s_x

Here is an additional thought. Any file that is a dmg is compressed and would have to be decompressed to open the installer, so these files are by definition inactive and they are not doing anything. Normally, after any dmg file has been decompressed and installed, the original dmg file is trashed along with the installer.

Sep 13, 2020 4:41 PM in response to Kappy

Yes, the content of the dmg are mostly likely some sort of iOS file system.


But the weird thing is, when I Google the file name "Greensburg 14G60", it shows iPhone9,2 which is iPhone 7 Plus. None of my family member has ever owned a iPhone 7 Plus.


Anyways, I am going to get those files removed.


Thanks again for your help, Kappy!

What is the "firmware" folder under home folder for?

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